Sustainable Cattle Production: Galloway and Highland Breeds in Romania
Author Information
Author(s): Ranta Mirela, Mălinaș Anamaria, Neglia Gianluca
Primary Institution: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca
Hypothesis
Will the Highland and Galloway breeds be able to adapt and perform well if grazed on poor- to medium-quality grassland?
Conclusion
Both Galloway and Highland cattle showed strong adaptability and satisfactory performance under low-input grazing conditions in Transylvania, with Galloway males outperforming Highland males in average daily gain.
Supporting Evidence
- Galloway calves had a higher average daily gain (ADG) of 676.91 g compared to Highland calves at 581.14 g.
- Both breeds demonstrated strong adaptability to extensive grazing conditions.
- The study was conducted at Cojocna Farm in Transylvania, Romania, from 2023 to 2024.
- Calves were weighed five times during the study to assess growth performance.
Takeaway
This study found that Galloway and Highland cattle can grow well even when they don't have a lot of food, making them good choices for farms with limited resources.
Methodology
The study involved weighing 16 calves (8 Galloway and 8 Highland) five times over a year to assess their average daily gain and adaptability to low-input grazing conditions.
Limitations
The small sample size of 16 animals and focus on a single geographical region limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The study included 5 male and 3 female calves from each breed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0514
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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